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Convicted former governor was released from federal custody a day earlier than expected. Phil Rogers reports.
(Published Wednesday, Jul 3, 2013)

Updated at 10:21 PM EDT on Wednesday, Jul 3, 2013

Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan took a big step toward becoming a free man Wednesday.

Ryan, 79, was released from federal custody a day earlier than expected. Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesman Chris Burke said Ryan was released Wednesday morning.

Ryan's Road to Prison: A Review

Former Gov. George Ryan spent the last six years in prison on a corruption conviction. Phil Rogers looks back on what got him there. (Published Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013)

"I feel wonderful. I'm glad to be home," Ryan said outside his Kankakee home. "There's no place like home, especially in America and freedom's a great thing. I'm glad I've got mine back."

Ryan served in state government for 40 years and spent nearly six years in prison in Terre Haute, Ind., for corruption. He was released from prison in January and bypassed staying at a halfway house to return to the Kankakee home he shared with his wife, who passed away while Ryan was in prison.

George Ryan "Paid A Severe Price:" Jim Thompson

Former Gov. Jim Thompson said his friend George Ryan "paid a severe price" when he was convicted and imprisoned. "The loss of his wife and brother while he was in the penitentiary, the loss of his pension, his office, his good name. That is a significant punishment." (Published Wednesday, Jan 30, 2013)

"It's an empty house without my wife of some 60 years," he said. "Friday was her birthday. [It] caught up to me finally. She's 79. That's life."

His July 4 parole date was bumped up because of the holiday, two sources close to Ryan's family said.

His future plans include writing a book, albeit one that came with a warning.

"With any luck I won't put you in it," he said to a reporter. "If your name appears, it won't be good."

Ryan still has to serve the terms of his mandatory supervised release, which means he'll have to report to a parole officer for one year.

The main provisions of Ryan's release include:

He can commit no other crimes.

No controlled substances or excessive use of alcohol

No guns

Cannot travel outside the northern district of Illinois without the permission of his probation officer and cannot travel outside the continental United States without permission of his trial judge, Rebecca Pallmeyer.

Must maintain regular contact with his parole officer and provide a written report within 5 days of the beginning of each month.

Tax returns, bank statements, credit cards, etc, must remain open to inspection by his probation officer

Must notify them if he plans to move

Must not associate with anyone convicted of a felony, which would include some notable figures from his past life, including his former chief of staff Scott Fawell and co-defendant Larry Warner.

Ryan works at his son's insurance company and was required to report to the Chicago halfway home weekly.

Ryan was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $603,348, a figure that appears to have been satisfied.